Two Months

Chapter 5

A few days after the party, Ginny arrived at work to find a wrapped coffee cup on her desk. "Misuse of Dark Objects Department" was inscribed onto the cup, along with "Ginny Weasley" and "Draco Malfoy Head of Department."

"What's this for?" asked Ginny, turning to Draco.

He turned around. "Oh," he said, starting to look very satisfied. "It's your birthday present. Everyone in the Department gets one for their birthday. Next year you get a paper weight, and the next a sweater."

"Oh," said Ginny, inspecting the cup. A piece of paper fell out. On it was written in a barely legible scrawl "Happy Birthday. Draco." She had forgotten it was her birthday that day. "But why does it have your name on it?"

At this his well-known smirk surfaced. "Hey, I got to design these, I'm the Head of the Department. Besides, now no one will ever forget who's in charge around here."

Ginny, rolling her eyes, set the cup down. "Thanks anyway," she said. Then, as an afterthought, she added, "Even though I'll probably never use it..."

"No?" said Draco, with a sort of false mocking hurt in his eyes. "Why, I thought you'd cherish a present like that...I mean, after that department party, I rather thought you had feelings for me."

Ginny felt like vomiting. She did not want to be reminded of that. "I was trying to forget about that party, Draco, and I'd like to thank you for helping me. I do not have any feelings for you whatsoever," Ginny spat out.

He pretended to look disappointed.

"I'm engaged, Draco," said Ginny with contempt. "I have a perfectly wonderful husband-to-be and I don't need to go around sniffing for more romance. Especially not with you."

"Oh, really," said Draco, disbelievingly. "And I bet you just said that to make yourself try to believe that everything is alright in your life."

"Why would I do that?" Ginny said too quickly and too loudly.

Draco shrugged, and went back to work.

***

In the afternoon all thoughts about the morning's events had vanished from Ginny's mind. She went back to chatting happily with some people during lunch break, and was in a good mood when she strode back to her desk to find Draco already there.

"Hey," she greeted cheerfully.

He nodded, acknowledging her presence.

Not quite ready to get back to work yet, Ginny tried to continue the conversation. "So what're you doing tonight? It's Friday, isn't it?"

"Yeah," said Draco absentmindedly.

Ginny waited a moment, and then when he didn't say anything else, said, "So are you doing anything exciting?"

Draco shrugged. "I might go to Planet Z or something."

"What's that?" asked Ginny, having heard of it but never dared to ask what it was.

He looked over at her, one eyebrow cocked. "A dance club."

"Oh," said Ginny, slightly embarrassed at the fact that Draco now knew she had no social life even if she was engaged. "So, um," she tried again, "Do you think I could go too?"

"I suppose so," said Draco, still not paying much attention. "You have to pay two Galleons to get in. But aren't you going home tonight?"

Ginny was surprised that he had kept track of the weeks when she stayed and when she went home. "Yeah," she said. "But I could leave tomorrow morning. Nothing exciting is happening at home, anyway."

"Isn't your beloved Potter there?" said Draco tiredly.

"Yeah, but---" she paused. "You don't want me to go, right? Is that it?"

Draco didn't say anything, and for a moment Ginny thought that maybe the reason he didn't want her to go was because he knew she liked him. Maybe he hates me, she thought, weighing the possibilities.

"I guess I'll see you there," said Draco finally, and did not talk to her for the rest of the day, leaving Ginny to her tiresome paperwork.

***

Ginny found the club fairly easily, after consulting a wizarding phone book. She got under the overhang just as the first drops of rain started, and, paying her two Galleons, went inside the dark and thumping building.

The music inside was loud, pounding in her ears. There was a deejay playing songs, and over in a corner was a food stand. The only time she could make out someone was when the spinning neon lights flashed over figure. Then she saw Padma Patil in a corner, looking flashy in a sequin top and a skirt. Ginny headed over towards the other girl.

"Hey, Ginny!" yelled Padma.

Ginny nodded back, not willing to strain her vocal chords.

Padma gestured to some of her other friends, and they started dancing. Padma grinned at Ginny as she bounced up and down.

"Come on, Ginny!" she shouted. "Let's see you dance!"

Ginny grinned back, and they danced for a few songs. When the music struck a slow song, they stopped. A tall man suddenly appeared beside Padma, and after talking to each other a bit, Padma waved Ginny good-bye and went to dance with him.

So Ginny stepped off to the side, sipping some light wine and watching the other couples sway back and forth to the music. Halfway through the song, one of Padma's girlfriends, Miesha Donovan found her and they chatted a bit. Another slow song came on, and Miesha giggled as they both spotted Draco Malfoy lurking in a corner, a bottle in his hand.

"Ask him to dance, Ginny," Miesha said boldly. "You are his secretary, aren't you?"

Ginny punched her lightly. "No way. He's probably drunk."

"So what?" Miesha grinned. "Gin, he is so good-looking, I can't believe you don't take advantage of your situation."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I'm engaged, Miesh."

Her friend gave her a sly look. "Come on, you only live once...and besides, you two are not married yet."

Ginny sighed, as she looked at her friend's glowing face. "Fine," she said, capitulating. "But only if you stop bothering me about it."

"Sounds good to me," said Miesha, grinning.

"Only one song," said Ginny.

"Only one," Miesha agreed.

Ginny approached him cautiously, aware that he was watching her as she drew nearer. She finally reached him.

"So," Draco drawled. "I thought you didn't want to have any romantic involvement with me."

"I don't," said Ginny. "I just want to dance."

He held her gaze for a moment. "Alright," he said, setting down his glass of what was probably beer. "Alright." Draco took her wrist, as they swept onto the dance floor.

Ginny put her hands on his shoulders, and he gripped her waist, and they started to dance. It felt sort of weird to Ginny; maybe it was because of the fact that she could smell the slight trace of alcohol in his breath. She spotted Miesha halfway through; she gave Ginny an enthusiastic wave. Ginny smiled to herself.

"Are you drunk?" asked Ginny, when Draco stumbled slightly.

He blinked at her. "I only had a couple of beers."

She frowned as the song ended. "Well--see you later," she said, detaching herself from his grasp.

"No, wait," he said, catching her wrist. "When are you leaving?"

Ginny glanced at a nearby clock. Ten minutes to midnight. She sighed. She was hoping that she could get home by eleven and the wake up early the next day to go home. So much for that. "I'll probably leave soon," she answered.

"Do you want to go to my place?" asked Draco. "It's raining pretty hard right now, and my apartment's pretty near. We can wait there until the rain stops...unless you want to stay."

Ginny wondered why he was asking. She had not brought her wand with her, seeing that she had no pocket in her skirt and did not want to burden herself with a clunky wand. "Okay," she finally said, "only until the rain stops."

She could swear that at that moment Draco almost smiled, but quickly resumed his normal self. He led her out the exit, and in a few moments, they were stepping inside Draco's apartment.

Ginny glanced around at the small cramped space. There was a fireplace, an armchair and a long sofa completing the living room. In the back was a small kitchen, with cupboards, a stove and a sink. There was also a hallway, which Ginny presumed led to the bedrooms and bathrooms.

Draco sank into an armchair, massaging his forehead. "God, that club wore me out," he said to no one in particular.

Ginny raised her eyebrows. A suspicion was growing inside her that he really was drunk. "Did you dance a lot?"

He looked up at her. "No, just you and a few other girls. And I talked to some people."

Shrugging, Ginny said, "Can I use your phone?"

"Yeah," said Draco wearily. "It's over there," his hand gestured to a vague corner of the room.

Punching in a few numbers, Ginny waited for someone to pick up as she called the Burrow. "Hello?" someone finally said.

Ginny was slightly relieved as she heard Harry's familiar voice. "Hey, love."

"Ginny?"

"Yeah," said Ginny. "Listen, I was out tonight with a couple of girls--" she winced as she heard herself lie to Harry. "I'm back, but I won't be coming home until tomorrow. I'll probably get there around mid morning."

"Aw..." said Harry. "I was hoping you were on your way."

"Yeah," said Ginny. "Me too."

"Okay, so I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Of course," Ginny replied.

"I love you, Gin," said Harry.

Ginny took in a sharp intake as she heard those familiar words that were exchanged between them every day last summer. Then, remembering herself, she said quickly, "I love you too," and hung up.

"Your darling Potter?" said Draco as she turned around, putting the phone back.

"Yes, it was," said Ginny, slightly annoyed.

He watched her with an amused expression. "So tell me, Ginny, what is it that you find so wonderful about him? His skinny chicken legs? His untidy of black hair? The glasses he wears because he can't afford contacts? Or maybe the ugly scar plastered on his forehead?"

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "For your information, Draco, Harry is the bravest person I have ever known."

He was not expecting that, and he seemed surprised for a moment. Only a moment, before he slouched back into his chair. "And you love him?" he asked.

"Of course I love him," said Ginny loudly. "I've loved him ever since I've known him."

Draco nodded briefly as he pushed himself up from his chair. "I remember," he said, standing by the fireplace, "in my second year. On Valentine's Day, you sent Potter a singing valentine."

Ginny flushed furiously.

"It was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard," said Draco. He started reciting. "His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad; his hair's as black as a blackboard. Oh, I wish he were mine, he's really divine; the hero that conquered the Dark Lord." When he was done, he looked over Ginny, whose face matched her hair.

"You memorized that?" she said through gritted teeth.

He smirked. "Hey, it's pretty catchy, Weasley," he said, and even though Ginny knew he was playing with her mind, it still made her fume with anger.

"Well, fine!" said Ginny huffily. "Say whatever you want about me and Harry. But I'm not going to be here to hear it!" And then, as an afterthought, she said, "I hate you, Malfoy!" Ending with that, she headed for the door.

Just as she was about to reach for the doorknob, Draco grabbed her shoulder roughly and turned her to face him. Ginny tilted her chin up defiantly, ready for whatever he was going to say.

"No you don't," said Draco with an odd sort of satisfied look. "You know you don't."

"Don't what," said Ginny, but they both knew what it was.

He studied her for the longest time, and Ginny grew uneasy. She was only nineteen, and he was much stronger than she was. Another fact that added to this was that it was nighttime. Ginny thought about what he had said about the valentine. At first she thought he just did it to piss her off, but now she was thinking that maybe behind it was a desperate cry for help. She knew she was being dramatic, but maybe Draco just needed to be loved. His father was definitely not going give him that. His mother...Ginny remembered seeing her at the World Cup, looking as if there was something dirty under her nose. And Draco was always so hardhearted; it was just so hard to reach him...

Without thinking, Ginny stood up on her tiptoes, and, placing her hands on his face, kissed him on the side of his mouth. It was all the invitation he needed.

And then, before she knew what was happening, he was kissing her on the mouth roughly, and gripping her upper arms so hard that she would have shouted if her mouth wasn't so busy...He touched her hair, and after that she did not keep track of what he did, all she knew was that he was kissing her, she was kissing him, and she was feeling something she hadn't felt with Harry. It was only when she felt his hand slid under the back of her blouse did she jolt back into reality. She pushed him away.

"Ginny wha--" Draco looked genuinely surprised.

It was then she could see what they had been doing...and it was not as she had thought it was. Her cloak had come undone and had landed on the floor, her blouse was halfway unbuttoned, and later, when she looked in a mirror, found that her hair was a horrid mess. Draco's usually perfect hair was distorted too, and he staggered when she pushed him. Ginny adjusted her skirt.

"Draco..." she said, breathing quickly. "What were we...what were you...Draco, you're drunk!"

"No I'm no," he said, not convincing either of them.

"God Draco, how could you..." Ginny bit her lip as tears sprang to her eyes. She did not know Draco was that eager. "Draco...you... and I thought you--"

Draco looked like he was truly sorry. "Ginny, oh God, I'm sorry...I...I guess I just had too much to drink...I didn't mean to do that...Ginny, don't look at me like that..."

"I'm going home," said Ginny, her voice quavering.

"No, Ginny, don't go...it's still raining outside," Draco said half-helplessly. "Ginny..."

Ginny looked out the window. He was right, it was still pouring torrents of rain, and she didn't have her wand...

"Ginny, look...why don't you stay here for the night...please, don't leave like this..."

She looked at him. He seemed helpless, and yet Ginny knew him better than that.

He could tell what she was thinking. "Ginny...look, you can sleep in my room, okay? It's got a lock...I promise I won't try anything, I'll sleep here, on the couch..."

She was considering it.

"Come on, Ginny, I'll take you back home first thing in the morning..."

"Alright," said Ginny finally.

He didn't say anything, but looked somewhat relieved. He looked so tired, Ginny thought. And it was true, Draco did look the most tired she had ever seen him.

"First thing in the morning," Ginny whispered. "You'll take me back?"

"Yes," said Draco. He started to leave.

"Wait--" said Ginny suddenly. He turned around. "Draco...I..." The words choked in her throat. He didn't take his gaze off of her. "Never mind," she said quickly.

They looked at each other for some time, and when Draco turned and left they both knew the unspoken words Ginny was about to say, and they both knew that Ginny was in love with him.

***